Wisconsin Wraparound

The Wisconsin Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative is a collaboration led by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Department of Health Services (DHS). This proposed initiative aims to address the complex behavioral health needs of children and youth across the state, with a particular focus on those at risk of entering the child welfare system due to behavioral health challenges.

This proposed initiative – called Wisconsin Wraparound – seeks to serve children and families in their local communities, providing high-fidelity wraparound services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and family. By intervening earlier and filling gaps in existing programs, the initiative aims to reduce the need for child welfare involvement and promote positive behavioral health outcomes.

Wisconsin Wraparound would be implemented through a federal Medicaid waiver, which would allow for greater flexibility in designing services to meet the specific needs of children with complex behavioral health issues. This approach would enable a "no wrong referral" system, where children can be referred from various sources – including child welfare, schools, health care, and the justice system. 

To move forward, legislative approval is required for DHS to request the Medicaid waiver. This can be achieved through Governor Evers’s state budget proposal or the passage of a standalone legislative bill. Once approved, DCF, DHS, and DPI would design the waiver request, ensuring that input from families, providers, and other partners is incorporated into the process.

For more information and to hear from families what Wisconsin Wraparound would mean for them, see our new resource.